The Impact of Water Access on Short-Term Migration in Rural India

Abstract

Migration is an important mechanism by which rural households in developing countries can diversify income and reduce risk. This paper examines the impact of irrigation availability on short-term migration in rural India. Combining a nationally representative household-level survey of rural households in Indian with district-level data on weather, irrigation, groundwater availability and electricity, we investigate the role that water infrastructure and groundwater development have played in influencing short-term migration. Our results show that migration decisions respond to the agricultural opportunity costs associated with irrigation and that access to secure water sources determine the relative benefits of short-term migration. Specifically, tube wells, which provide a consistent source of water, allow small landholders to profitably farm lands even in times of water scarcity, which reduces the benefit of short-term migration. Further, our results show that the availability of electricity lowers the likelihood of short-term migration even in areas where groundwater availability is significantly reduced. This suggests that regions with access to electricity are able to adapt and shift to new technologies that facilitate additional groundwater extraction. From a policy perceptive, shutting down access to groundwater will significantly increase temporary labor mobility